Structural steel truss joist



June 21, 1932.

F. WELLS 1,863,817

STRUCTURAL STEEL TRUSS JOINT Filed .Dec. 26, 1930 15 15 Fig. 1 8 l g 16 Patented June 21, 1932 UNITEE STATEfi FREDERICK WELLS, OF TOLEDO, OHIO srnuorunar. srnni. 'rnuss aorsr Application filed December 26,1930. Serial No. 504,768.

This invention relates to structural steel truss joists such as are adapted to be used for floor and roof construction in various types of structural steel work.

6 The object of the invention is to provide a strong and simple structure for the purposes stated, which is made up of intersecting structural steel members and which may be easily and economically assembled and secured,

preferably by welding.

The invention in its preferred embodiment,

together wi h the object and advantages of the presentconstruction, will be more particularly described with reference to the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a portion of two i joists constructed according to the invention,

the associated cross beam bein shown in section; Fig. 2 is a perspective view illustrating the end portion of a oist and a portion of the cross beam supporting the same; Fig.

3 is a detail view of one of the diagonal truss members; Fig. i is a detail view of one of the intermediate vertical truss members; Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 1, but showing a modified construction; Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the modified construction shown in Fig. 5; Fig. 7 is a side elevation of a complete joist, showing also the cross beams by which it is supported.

As illustrated in the drawing my improved joist comprises top and bottom chords 8 and 9 respectively, each of which is composed of a single bar T-shapedin cross section or of two angle bars suitably secured together.

' The chords 8 and 9 are of equal length and are connected by end verticals 10 and intermediate verticals 11, all of which are angle bars of equal length. All of the verticals 1O beam flange to secure the joists against lateral and 11 are centrally slotted at the ends to re- .up and rest on top of the cross beams.

flattened at the ends againstthe webs of .the chords 8 and 9, the upper end of each diagonal being slotted as shownat ll to receive the web of the chord. The flattened ends of the diagonals 13 are of course weldedto the .webs e5 of the respective chords.

Each end of the joist at its upper corner has a clip angle 15 welded thereto, which is adapted to support the end of the joist on a cross beam 16 to which the clip angle is secured in the field, preferably by'welding.

Figs. 5 and 6 illustrate a modified form of the invention in which the joists are adapted for use with cross beams 17 having top and bottom flanges of uniform thickness. In this construction, the end vertical 18 is made up of twoangle bars welded at their ends, as shown, to the top ,andbottom chords 8 and 9. A clip angle 19 is welded-to the face of the. vertical l8 and is adapted to rest on the hori- P zontal inner surface of a lower flange of the cross beam 17 to support the load. A clip angle 20 is also similarly secured to the upper end of the end vertical 18 adj acentthe inner face of the upper cross beam flange. The clip angle 19 is welded in the field to the cross beam to support the load while the upper clip angle 20 is welded to the edge of the cross tilting or overturning. 30 By constructing the joists in the manner described, maximum strength is secured with a minimum amount of material. All 'com' pression web members are equally of mini mum length. By extending the lower chords 9 to the full length of the joists they provide a support and true line for a ceiiing and also provide a clear space adjacent the cross beam within which plumbing and other equipment may be placed where it is supported by mere ly resting upon the lower chord of the joist.

By constructing the end connection as shown, the upper surface of the joist is substantially flush with the upper surface of the cross beam so that there is a considerable saving in height, usually about 2 for each floor, as compared to the usual construction in which the ends of the lower chords are carried While I have explained in detail various features of the invention, it is to be under-V stood that these may be modified to a considerable extent Without departing from the scope of the invention as claimed.

What I claim is:

In a truss, upper and lower substantially T-shaped chords,. means to connect the chords to a cross-supportincluding a substantially L-shape clip having one of its legs formed to be connected to the cross support and having its other leg Welded to the end of the upper chord that is adjaCent to the cross-support and extending vertically and alongside the cross-support, a vertical mem-w r ber Welded at its ends to the chords and dis- 1 f posed adjacent to said vertically extending leg of the clip and a diagonal Welded at its ends to the chords, said diagonal having its upper'end disposed at points adjacent to the upper end of tllQ'VBItlCZLl member and embracing the flange of the upper chord.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto signed my name to this specification.

FRnnnRroKWELnsg 

